Offense in charge for Francis Parker

The Lancers girls volleyball team used its offense as a defensive weapon, neutralizing Louisville’s hitters en route to winning the 2012 SoCal Volleyball Invitational, taking the final 25-10, 25-16 at Coast Volleyball Club in Sorrento Valley.

With a slew of attackers, Parker kept defending champion Louisville off balance during the entire final. By constantly facing pressure from the Lancers, the team from Woodland Hills could not get its offense set up, paving the way for an easier match than expected.

Louisville’s Jasmine Burton was lauded by Parker coach John Landicho, and Westview coach Nancy Ros said Burton was probably the best hitter her team has faced all year. But Parker constantly found the right spots in the Louisville defense, diminishing the advantage of one player.

“Obviously there’s a very good player on the other side,” Landicho said of Burton. “You could see if they were out of system, if they didn’t pass the ball well and their setter had to run around and create swings, they weren’t as effective of a team.”

Parker also had plenty of powerful hitters. Alexis Salmons had eight kills in the final, while Alex Deddeh and Grace Forren each added six. Michaela Dews had five kills and seven digs, and Jenn Wineholt had four kills to go with seven blocks, further stifling Louisville.

Salmons also picked up three aces in a four-point stretch, helping Parker jump out to a 16-4 lead in the first set to grab all the momentum.

“We knew we had a couple targets on their team,” Salmons said. “I was just serving it in, and they were having problems.”

Dews was named the tournament MVP after registering 31 kills and 15 digs during Saturday’s Gold Division bracket. Salmons made the all-tourney team with 22 kills and 14 digs, as did Westview’s Brooke Stites.

“(Dews) is our leading scorer,” Landicho said. “But more than that, she’s just grown as a player this year. Her ability to attack is better, her ability to pass. Last year she got picked on, and this year you can’t do that to her.”

Another Parker teammate very well could have made the team and was crucial in letting the Lancers take such a big lead.

Setter Erika Conners seemingly could not miss in the first set, placing numerous perfect passes right at the net that her teammates took advantage of. She finished with 26 assists — 89 on the day.

“Our setter was dishing the balls everywhere, and everyone was hitting,” Salmons said. “She deserved (being on the all-tourney team), too, if they had another spot for her.”